I thank you for participating in the Thirteenth International
Conference on the Unity of the Sciences. Even though we cannot
physically be together, my heart is with you.

For 13 years I have addressed this assembly of distinguished
scholars and have raised questions concerning the state of the world
and the responsibility of the scientific and academic communities to
solve global problems. While the specific contents of my addresses
have varied from year to year, the underlying thematic focus has
remained unchanged. This focus is essentially twofold, emphasizing
the need for the unity of sciences and of knowledge in general, and
the need for science to he guided by absolute values and purpose to
assure the welfare of human existence.

God is the source not only of religious truth but also of
scientific truth. As I said several years ago at the closing of one
of our ICUS meetings, "God is not only the first preacher, but
also the first scientist." I firmly believe this is a
fundamental truth of the universe, and I have based my life's work on
this assumption.

I Sought To Unify

As a minister of the living God, I have sought to enhance, clarify
and unify all aspects of God's essential being as manifested in the
whole of creation, both physical and spiritual.

The search for the meaning of life as well as the desire to
enhance the material well-being of human existence have been the
motivating forces behind my lifelong work, despite the many obstacles
which have stood in my way since I began my mission at age sixteen.

One of the greatest tragedies now facing the pursuit of knowledge
is the fragmentation of the academic disciplines. Such divisive
specialization of science and knowledge, like the dismantling of a
machine, ultimately paralyzes the function of the whole and prevents
science from fulfilling its mission.

Whether we accept it or not, the world is one. It is erroneous to
think that one discipline has a more complete view of reality than
another, or to think that discoveries and advances in different areas
are unrelated. All fields of scientific and academic study are
intertwined each having a unique yet partial view of the whole of
reality. It is to the advantage of total human progress and happiness
that all fields of study harmoniously work together to form an
integrated view of reality.

Unity with a Purpose

But the view of the unity of science and knowledge about which I
speak does not mean simply reducing all knowledge to a single
academic discipline. Instead, it is a unity grounded in a fundamental
purpose. In science there are many fields, but each aims at the
realization of human happiness.

Although fragmentation and divisiveness face the academic world
today, there is an even greater menace -- a menace which turns our
attention to the second ongoing theme of ICUS: the search for
absolute values.

Despite the deep desire and diligent efforts of most scientists
and scholars to establish peace and prosperity, poverty, Illiteracy,
disease, strife and hostility still prevail in even the most advanced
nations. Despite great advances in science and technology, humankind
continues to suffer from sorrow, pain and distress.

Empty Promises

Many leaders are trying to eliminate this misery and to establish
true peace and stability, but the world echoes with empty promises of
peace. Neither democratic capitalism nor communistic socialism has
solved world problems. Both have allowed secular humanism to reduce
human existence to materialism and thus demean the value of life. The
so-called free world has allowed this through impotence and a lack of
direction; the communist world dictates this through its ideological
materialism. Confusion grows as a sense of purposelessness permeates
the world.

How has this come about? The main reason is that the standard of
value which regulates human behavior has been undermined. As ethics
and morality have lost their power, the standard of goodness has all
but disappeared. Part of this loss is due to the misguided
foundations of science. By attempting to be value-neutral, science
has often excluded the questions of humanity and moral values in the
process of its development.

Over time science has gradually fractionalized, each field
becoming more specialized, analytical and materialistic, thus
ignoring the questions of morality and values. Hence, human dominion
over science has weakened to the point that no one can be sure of the
fate of human existence on this planet.

New Values Needed

Another reason for the demise of values and morality is that past
standards of value and morality no longer satisfy modern thinking men
and women. New, reasonable morals and ethics must arise out of a new
standard of values that is clear and applicable to the modern
individual. This standard can only be derived from a transcendent,
unified system of thought which unifies past and present secular and
religious thought.

I have long been interested in the aims of religion, philosophy
and science. As I have already stated, these conferences which I have
initiated stem from these concerns. While religion has concerned
itself with metaphysical and moral questions, science has limited
itself to understanding the regularities of nature and the transfer
of energy and motion in space and time.

It is true that science has contributed to the tremendous advances
in knowledge during the last few hundred years. Nevertheless, science
without a standard of value to guide it could lead to global
destruction. In my view, the whole range of knowledge from theology
to science has no meaning without an understood purpose and a
standard of value directing this knowledge.

God-Centered Religion

I believe that this direction and standard of value can only come
from God-centered religion. This should not be any surprise to those
in the scientific community who are aware of the philosophical
writings of many great scientists.

I have proclaimed in earlier addresses at ICUS that Unification
theology and ideology can be the foundation of a new, unified thought
system centered on God. This ideology states that human beings are
intended to have value by nature of their very being. They are each
meant to have a unique parent-child relationship with God.

Hence, all people are created to lead life with a definite value
perspective in accordance with God's purpose of creation: the
establishment of true love relationships. In fact, I propose that the
absolute values which we seek are grounded in the absolute true love
of God. It is on the foundation of true love that the values of
absolute truth, beauty and goodness are formed.

My ardent wish is that all scientists and scholars develop their
respective fields on the basis of a solid view of moral values, thus
exalting human dignity by adopting a spiritual and unified method as
well as a materialistic and analytical one.

Solutions to the world's problems can only come about through this
holistic approach to human existence. Rather than the clash of
fragmented approaches and ideals, a harmonious effort centered on
effective wisdom and knowledge is required of the many distinguished
scholars gathered at this conference.

I sincerely hope that this conference will contribute to the
ideals which God intended to realize at the time of the creation, and
to provide solutions to global concerns. May your efforts become a
decisive, contributing factor toward the realization of the new
cultural revolution culminating in a world of true love, goodness,
peace and happiness.